Rink Specialists to build outdoor rink for Walleye Winterfest

A North Carolina-based company that specializes in specialty hockey rinks will build the temporary outdoor ice rink for Winterfest at Fifth Third Field, the Toledo Walleye announced.

Illustration courtesy Toledo Walleye

The company has been building specialty rinks for 14 years, including Comerica Park’s Hockeytown Winter Festival last December, the Pittsburgh Penguins Community Rink, Frozen Fenway and Frozen Fenway 3.

“We’re excited to bring outdoor hockey to Toledo, Ohio and the ECHL for the very first time,” said Rink Specialists owner and vice president Rich Cubin in a news release. “Toledo is the #1 Minor League sports market in America and a perfect fit for our next outdoor hockey production.”

Although the partnership was only just officially announced, Walleye Special Events Manager Mike Keedy said the team has been working with Rink Specialists for about two years to develop the Winterfest event, which will be held Dec. 26-Jan. 4 and presented by ProMedica.

“We have visited several outdoor hockey productions in the past three years, including events produced by Rink Specialists,” Keedy said in the release. “Their reputation, professionalism and overall event performance gave us the confidence to proceed as our rink partner for Walleye Winterfest this coming December.”

The regulation-size (200 feet long by 100 feet wide) outdoor rink is expected to take three weeks to build. It will stretch from first base to third base with the two goals placed at opposing bases.

The first step will be to strip the infield and outfield turf, according to the release. Then Rink Specialists will start by putting down a special flooring to protect the playing field. Next a layer of foam board and another layer of protective flooring will be added before the playing surface is laid. A 430-ton chiller system will be put outside the rink to keep the ice frozen during the 10-day event. The final step will be to put up the dasher boards and paint the ice.

Tickets are currently available for all Walleye and Mud Hens game plan holders. Individual ticket sales will be available at a later date. For more information, call 419-725-WALL or visit www.toledowalleye.com.